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Ignorance of a law excuses no one. That is why it is important to know even just a basic law in a place where are staying or working.
Considered to be friendly advice to tourists and for overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who are staying in another country for a year or more especially in Middle East country where laws about morality and decency are very strict.
Here are 10 strictly prohibited acts in the United Arab Emirates to avoid fines, penalties, jail terms, deportation or even death sentence.
Read: First Time to Travel in the UAE? Never Ever Do This With Your Passport
Read: First Time to Travel in the UAE? Never Ever Do This With Your Passport
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1. Cross Dressing is illegal in the country.
Under Article 385 of the penal code of United Arab Emirates, it criminalizes "indecent attire" as an act of public indecency.
This August, a pre-operative transgender woman and a man, both from Singapore, jailed in the UAE for cross-dressing. They were arrested in Abu Dhabi last August 9 for wearing women's clothes in public.
Both are sentenced to a year in prison and will have to pay $2,720 fines.
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2. Pre-marital Sex
Sex and pregnancy outside marriage are illegal in the UAE. Even Consul-General Paul Raymund Cortes reminded Filipinos in UAE to legalize their union or face a jail term if caught having sex outside marriage while staying in the country.
Although this fact is well known in the UAE, a number of couples still end up behind bars for this violation, including Filipinos.
So remember, unmarried couples are not permitted to live together or share a room in the UAE.
3. Kissing and petting are prohibited.
The code says displays of affection between couples whether married or not in public places does not fit local customs and culture.
“Holding hands for a married couple is tolerated but kissing and petting are considered an offense to public decency.”
One of the most widely reported cases involved two Britons, Charlotte Adams, and Ayman Najafi, who was jailed for a month after an Emirati woman complained they had kissed in public in Dubai.
4. Taking pictures
Although taking pictures around UAE is not prohibited. Picture taking in restricted areas are not allowed. You may end up to three months jail or fine up to Dh5,000 for the violation.
Do not take photos especially in areas where there's a sign saying "No Picture Taking."
Avoid taking pictures in military areas, palaces, courts, government buildings and certain bridges.
Read: Top 10 Reminders About Photography If You are In KSA or UAE
5. Sexual harassment or randomly addressing women in public place.
This violation is liable to be punished by imprisonment or deportation. Public decency and morality laws throughout the country are very strict and it is stated in the Code of Behavior that reflects Islamic tradition of the country.
6. Dress Code and Nudity
In public places such as streets, shopping malls, and restaurants, shorts and skirts shall be of appropriate length. Clothing shall not indecently expose parts of the body, be transparent, or display obscene or offensive pictures and slogans.
Swimwear shall not be worn outside the beach, as the decent dress is the rule in the rest of the city.
Nudity is strictly forbidden in every part of the city and is liable to be punished by imprisonment or deportation.
7. Swearing is also illegal
All kinds of aggressive or offensive gestures are considered a public offense. Do not use bad language, or offensive gestures, or show disrespect to the country's leaders, culture, and religion.
8. Drinking, Driving and Dancing in public
Any activity that involves alcohol is illegal. Drinking or being drunk in public is illegal
Driving with any amount of alcohol in your system is illegal and the penalties can be very harsh and severe.
While alcohol is served in some hotels and sold in a few designated stores, it may generally only be purchased by people who hold a liquor license. You can drink but only in a licensed places.
Certainly, you cannot walk on the street while drunk or carry bottles.
Also dancing in public is considered indecent.
Read: Traffic Rules and Fines in the UAE
9. Illegal Drugs
UAE has zero tolerance with regards to drugs. Penalties for this violation can go up to death penalty particularly for sales and trafficking.
They said, even the smallest amount can be detected at the airport and can lead to heavy prison sentences.
10. Pork Meat
Although pork meat is no longer ban in UAE, you should never offer it to a Muslim guest.
SEE MORE:
Sex and pregnancy outside marriage are illegal in the UAE. Even Consul-General Paul Raymund Cortes reminded Filipinos in UAE to legalize their union or face a jail term if caught having sex outside marriage while staying in the country.
Although this fact is well known in the UAE, a number of couples still end up behind bars for this violation, including Filipinos.
So remember, unmarried couples are not permitted to live together or share a room in the UAE.
The code says displays of affection between couples whether married or not in public places does not fit local customs and culture.
“Holding hands for a married couple is tolerated but kissing and petting are considered an offense to public decency.”
One of the most widely reported cases involved two Britons, Charlotte Adams, and Ayman Najafi, who was jailed for a month after an Emirati woman complained they had kissed in public in Dubai.
Although taking pictures around UAE is not prohibited. Picture taking in restricted areas are not allowed. You may end up to three months jail or fine up to Dh5,000 for the violation.
Do not take photos especially in areas where there's a sign saying "No Picture Taking."
Avoid taking pictures in military areas, palaces, courts, government buildings and certain bridges.
Read: Top 10 Reminders About Photography If You are In KSA or UAE
This violation is liable to be punished by imprisonment or deportation. Public decency and morality laws throughout the country are very strict and it is stated in the Code of Behavior that reflects Islamic tradition of the country.
In public places such as streets, shopping malls, and restaurants, shorts and skirts shall be of appropriate length. Clothing shall not indecently expose parts of the body, be transparent, or display obscene or offensive pictures and slogans.
Swimwear shall not be worn outside the beach, as the decent dress is the rule in the rest of the city.
Nudity is strictly forbidden in every part of the city and is liable to be punished by imprisonment or deportation.
All kinds of aggressive or offensive gestures are considered a public offense. Do not use bad language, or offensive gestures, or show disrespect to the country's leaders, culture, and religion.
8. Drinking, Driving and Dancing in public
Any activity that involves alcohol is illegal. Drinking or being drunk in public is illegal
Driving with any amount of alcohol in your system is illegal and the penalties can be very harsh and severe.
While alcohol is served in some hotels and sold in a few designated stores, it may generally only be purchased by people who hold a liquor license. You can drink but only in a licensed places.
Certainly, you cannot walk on the street while drunk or carry bottles.
Also dancing in public is considered indecent.
Read: Traffic Rules and Fines in the UAE
UAE has zero tolerance with regards to drugs. Penalties for this violation can go up to death penalty particularly for sales and trafficking.
They said, even the smallest amount can be detected at the airport and can lead to heavy prison sentences.
Although pork meat is no longer ban in UAE, you should never offer it to a Muslim guest.
SEE MORE:
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